Soils in the Environment

Have you ever wondered what is under the grass? What do the roots actually grow in? It’s soil! It’ made of up many different things, both living and non-living and many living things including you depend on it. Bring your questions and be prepared to get muddy. Join Karin as she leads your class through an exploration of what soil is, where it comes from, it's importance to living things, including you and what you can do to help keep it healthy.

Primary Disciplines

Program Delivery Mode

Booking Information

This program will be available all school year, but it will work best between April to November... as long as you and I can both get soil samples.
If this is not possible, please let me know and we'll try to make appropriate arrangements.

Provider's Cancellation Policy

About This Provider

Royal Botanical Gardens is a living museum which serves local, regional and global communities while developing and promoting public understanding of the relationship between the plant world, humanity and the rest of nature.

Education at Royal Botanical Gardens encourages environmental stewardship by providing meaningful and diverse learning experiences that connect people with the wild and cultivated plant world.

With over 12 years experience delivering engaging interactive videoconferencing programs, we offer topics that explore biodiversity, conservation, botany, plant ecology and the environment., Whether you are looking for an insect program; a program exploring wetlands, their functions and human impacts or you want to discover more about a delicious chocolate treat; we have a wide variety of plant-based programs to support and enhance your classroom needs or stimulate and entertain older adults.

No matter where you are, your group can interact with our educators and scientists.

Program Details

Format

1. Investigate the composition and characteristics of (different) soils with simple observations and feel tests to be conducted with presenter. Review results of Soil Layer activity. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the composition of soils, the types of soils. Discover how to determine the type of soil you have by various "feel" tests... get ready to get messy!3. Discover the relationship between soils and other living things within the soil ecosystem and the interactions between the soil and living things.4. Assess the impact of soils on society and the environment, and of society and the environment on soils (optional and after discussion with teacher)

Objectives

Key Concepts/Ideas to be discovered: • Soil is made up of living and non-living things. • The composition, characteristics, and condition of soil determine its capacity to sustain life. • Soil is an essential source of life and nutrients for many living things. • Living things, including humans, interact with soils and can cause positive or negative changes.

Standards Alignment

National Standards

OntarioGrade 3: Science: Soils in the Environment• Soil is made up of living and non-living things. (Overall expectations 1, 2, and 3) • The composition, characteristics, and condition of soil determine its capacity to sustain life. (Overall expectations 1, 2, and 3) • Soil is an essential source of life and nutrients for many living things. (Overall expectation 3) • Living things, including humans, interact with soils and can cause positive or negative changes. (Overall expectation 1)

State Standards

OntarioGrade 3: Science: Soils in the Environment• Soil is made up of living and non-living things. (Overall expectations 1, 2, and 3) • The composition, characteristics, and condition of soil determine its capacity to sustain life. (Overall expectations 1, 2, and 3) • Soil is an essential source of life and nutrients for many living things. (Overall expectation 3) • Living things, including humans, interact with soils and can cause positive or negative changes. (Overall expectation 1)